To the 70th anniversary of the Great Victory: The exhibition “Symbols of Victory” in Saint-Petersburg

In Saint-Petersburg, in the Memory Hall of the Monument to heroic defenders of Leningrad, on May 6, 2015 is opened the exhibition “Symbols of Victory”.

The exhibition tells about the last crucial stage of the World War II, the final victory over Nazi Germany in May 1945, offers a modern audience to answer the question what it means for us today, and what the Victory Day symbol is.

At the exhibition about the last days of the war tell maps of military operations carried out on the outskirts of Berlin, and photographs from the collections of the State Museum of History of St. Petersburg, the Central State Archive of Film and the Russian State Film and Photo Archive, documenting the events of the spring - summer 1945. These are true indication of how joyfully welcomed in the European cities of the Soviet soldier-liberator: they can see the happy faces of the people waiting for the end of a terrible war. Photos of war criminals in the dock at Nuremberg are also shown.

Visitors can see the documents containing the original text of judgments and orders of the Government of the Soviet Union in May 1945, handling Stalin to the people. Photo of Victory Day parade in Moscow and the documents relating to the organization of the parade (provided by the Institute of Military History).

The exhibition presents the medals that were awarded during the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet soldiers heroism, as well as diplomas and letters of thanks to command military units that were given at the end of the war. They are accompanied by information materials, from which we can learn from what existed medals and orders when they were established, and who and what services they awarded.

Also, it leaves no one indifferent letters of soldiers and their families, written at the end of the war, which reflect the thoughts and aspirations of ordinary people.